CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 5, 2007 - Elixir
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., announced today new preclinical data
confirming ghrelin antagonism as a potential method for regulating
metabolism, decreasing body weight and managing blood glucose. The
data were presented in poster sessions during ENDO 07, The
Endocrine Society's 89th Annual Meeting, being held in Toronto,
Canada. Elixir is focused on the development of drugs to treat and
prevent metabolic disease, as well as prevent age-related diseases,
based on targets identified in the pathways regulating aging.

Ghrelin is a key metabolic regulator that is known to stimulate
appetite and food consumption and is believed to play a key role in
metabolism and energy storage. Ghrelin is a naturally occurring
hormone secreted by the stomach, which acts primarily at the level
of the hypothalamus in the brain.

In the first presentation, Elixir scientists explored whether
ghrelin exerts a direct effect on adipocytes (fat cells) and if the
effect is mediated through ghrelin receptor (GhrR) mRNA expression
in these cells. To assess this, the scientists first examined
ghrelin signaling by measuring insulin sensitivity in mouse
adipocyte cell lines that were treated with ghrelin for four days.
Scientists also assessed the expression of GhrR mRNA in adipose
tissue, isolated adipocytes from mice, and the mouse adipocyte
cell-line. The results showed GhrR was detected in the isolated
adipocytes and mouse adipocyte cell lines, suggesting ghrelin acts
directly through its receptor on adipocytes to regulate energy
homeostasis. Moreover, the reduction of insulin signaling in
adipocytes by chronic ghrelin treatment provides a possible
mechanism for increased insulin sensitivity in GhrR knockout
mice.

In two additional tandem presentations, Elixir scientists showed
that, compared to control mice, GhrR knockout mice resisted the
development of diabetes and obesity ass
ociated with a high-fat
diet. The presentations further showed that treatment of wild type
diabetic and obese mice with a small molecule ghrelin antagonist
recapitulated the effects seen in the knockout mice.

In a first series of experiments, Elixir scientists examined the
impact of a high-fat diet on fuel utilization and metabolic
flexibility in GhrR knockout mice. Increased metabolic flexibility
is associated with increased insulin sensitivity and a resistance
to diabetes. As expected, long-term exposure to a high-fat diet
caused an overall decrease in metabolic flexibility in the wild
type mice; however, this trend was reversed in the GhrR knockout
mice fed the same diet.

In another series of experiments, GhrR knockout mice were fed a
high-fat diet for 15 weeks, with their body weight and food intake
monitored throughout the experiment. The results showed after 15
weeks on the diet, the GhrR knockout mice gained 10 percent less
weight than the wild type control mice. Additionally, the knockout
mice had lower blood glucose, insulin and HbA1c levels. These
results indicate the knockout mice are less prone to the
development of diabetes.

The scientists then compared the results of the GhrR knockout
mice to those obtained with mice treated twice a day for up to 56
days with one of the Company's potent, small molecule GhrR
antagonists. As with the GhrR knockout mice, the antagonist-treated
mice showed improved glucose and insulin control compared to the
mice treated with vehicle. In addition, the GhrR antagonist
treatment resulted in a significant reduction in liver fat content
with no evidence of liver toxicity relative to the mice
vehicle-treated mice.

"Ghrelin antagonism represents one of the most intriguing new
targets for addressing metabolic disorders such as Type 2 diabetes,
obesity and other metabolic disorders. Our compilation of
preclinical data, including these presentations, has shown it is
possible to improve glucose control, d
ecrease fat, including in the
liver, and to regulate metabolism through the inhibition of
ghrelin," stated Peter DiStefano, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer.
"EX-1350, our small molecule ghrelin antagonist, is currently
undergoing IND-enabling studies, with the goal of initiating
first-in-man clinical studies in early 2008."

Amongst metabolic diseases, diabetes and obesity are at epidemic
proportions in the U.S. and represent an enormous unmet medical
need. According to the International Diabetes Federation, Type 2
diabetes affects 195 million people worldwide and the number of
sufferers could top 330 million by 2025.

Elixir has filed broad intellectual property protection on all
aspects of the ghrelin antagonist program including composition of
matter protection covering five novel compound classes and their
therapeutic uses.

About Elixir Pharmaceuticals

Elixir is a Cambridge, MA-based biopharmaceutical company
focused on developing and commercializing drugs to treat and
prevent metabolic disease, prevent age-related diseases, ultimately
extending the quality and length of human life.

In addition to its ghrelin antagonist program, the Company has
leveraged its knowledge of ghrelin biology and pharmacology by
licensing a small molecule ghrelin agonist (designated EX-1314)
from Bristol-Myers Squibb Company in April 2005. EX-1314 binds
selectively to the ghrelin receptor and mimics the body's naturally
occurring ghrelin. In doing so this novel, orally available agent
is capable of stimulating appetite, gastric motility and the
release of growth hormone. Elixir is currently in IND-enabling
studies with EX-1314 targeting a variety of therapeutic
indications.

Further, in March 2006, Elixir in-licensed North and South
American rights to Glufast(R) (mitiglinide calcium hydrate), an
insulin secretagogue, which lowers post-meal glucose levels by
improving the body's own ability to produce insulin. Already
marketed in Japan, Glufast ha
s undergone extensive clinical
development demonstrating the product's ability to safely and
effectively treat Type 2 diabetes.

Elixir has also developed expertise and a broad IP portfolio of
more than twenty patents and patent applications related to the
Sirtuin class of proteins, including small molecular weight SIRT1
activators and inhibitors. The Company's own R&D efforts and
those of its numerous research partners utilizing modulators of
SIRT1 (a human sirtuin) have significantly extended the SIRT
knowledge base in recent years. Elixir is also actively pursuing
drug discovery efforts focused on other key targets, such as
AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) and the INDY gene, both of which have
been implicated in the regulation of aging and metabolism in a
variety of organisms.

More information about Elixir is available at
http://www.elixirpharm.com/

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